You Skillfully Coax the Witch

“Brother, I didn’t notice anything unusual.”

“Sir, same here.”

“Apologies, Mentor… I didn’t find anything.”

“Master, no anomalies.”

Inside the old house, the light was dim. Sunlight struggled to squeeze through the cracks of the window, forming scattered, faint beams that illuminated the worn and mottled interior.

Large patches of white plaster had peeled off the walls, revealing the yellowed bricks beneath.

Hoping for a stroke of luck.

Xu Xi had asked the girls to help investigate the old house, hoping to uncover the reason behind the appearance of the simulator.

As expected, they found nothing.

“It’s fine, this is enough.”

“It’s getting late, let’s head back.”

Xu Xi took one last look at the old house, his gaze lingering on the familiar decor and the worn-out wheelchair, a flicker of nostalgia in his eyes.

Then, he led the girls out of the house and back toward the courtyard.

Exploring the old house had been a spur-of-the-moment decision.

Xu Xi never really believed that an ordinary house could have any connection to the simulator. Finding something would have been a bonus, but not finding anything was no cause for concern.

“Thank you all for your help today. Let’s go, I’ll cook dinner tonight.”

In the snowy weather.

The light snowfall was like the opening act of a beautiful play.

Xu Xi walked through the snow, smiling as he promised the girls. His younger sister was delighted, and the princess was overjoyed.

The witch followed quietly.

The mechanical servant wore a serious expression, ready to observe and learn.

The loyal servant still couldn’t comprehend how Xu Xi managed to make his dishes emit a golden glow without using any supernatural powers.

Was this a unique talent of the master?

The servant pondered, repeatedly trying to learn.

At dusk, the sun neared the horizon, its light turning hazy and orange, gently brushing against the clouds in the sky.

It cast a soft, golden hue over all the buildings on the horizon.

Upon returning to the courtyard.

Xu Xi first took out the items he had purchased, arranging them in their designated places, before heading to the kitchen.

Under the eager gaze of the princess and the meticulous attention of the mechanical servant, he began cooking. Occasionally, the girls would lend a hand.

“…Yingxue.”

“Yes, sir?”

“Wipe your drool.”

“Ahem… Actually, I’m not usually like this. Please don’t misunderstand, sir.”

Wu Yingxue said this, her hands behind her back, her expression slightly awkward as she avoided Xu Xi’s gaze.

“Don’t worry, I’m not upset.”

Xu Xi sighed, flicking the princess’s forehead and telling her to go wait at the dining table for dinner to be ready.

The princess obeyed.

Soon.

With Xu Xi’s masterful cooking skills, the table was filled with glowing dishes. Except for Wu Yingxue, the other three girls were unusually quiet.

How did my brother do this?

How did my mentor do this?

How did my master do this?

Though it wasn’t the first time they had seen it, every time they ate Xu Xi’s food, they couldn’t help but wonder if his culinary skills surpassed even the highest standards.

Oh well, never mind.

As night fell, amidst the clinking of bowls and chopsticks, Xu Moli picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork, placing it in her mouth and chewing gently.

“Brother’s cooking is as amazing as ever.”

The younger sister praised sincerely, her voice filled with pride.

The witch and the mechanical servant shared the same sentiment.

“My cooking is still far behind the master’s…” The servant looked down at her hands, constantly calculating what she might be lacking.

“Munch munch—”

This was the sound of the princess eating heartily.

The north wind howled outside.

The snow fell silently, piling up.

The winter night was quiet, the courtyard feeling like an isolated island in the world.

Silent, cold, and dim.

The branches were frozen brittle, the ground hardened by the frost. Only the wind and snow danced wildly outside, beating against the already snow-covered window.

“Life in the real world is so beautiful, it almost feels unreal…”

Xu Xi took a sip of hot soup, feeling warmth spread through his body.

It wasn’t just the warmth of the soup.

It was also because of the girls sitting beside him.

Subconsciously, Xu Xi glanced around the table.

Xu Moli was eating slowly, seemingly distracted, likely thinking about her grand plans.

Wu Yingxue’s eating was restrained, but she was still the fastest.

Ailei ate very slowly, using her chopsticks to pick up the faintly glowing dishes, her silver-blue eyes scanning them as if still trying to figure out the secret behind the glow.

Krisha ate just as slowly.

When Xu Xi looked over.

In the corner, the girl with silver-gray hair was also looking at him, her hollow eyes blinking, clearly reflecting Xu Xi’s figure.

She watched as she ate.

Chewing a piece of fish expressionlessly.

She looked both silly and a little cute.

“…Mentor, are you thinking something impolite?” Krisha tilted her head.

“No, that’s just your imagination, Krisha,” Xu Xi deftly changed the subject, picking up a piece of sweet and sour pork for her.

Such a wonderful life, wasn’t it?

Eating the food he had made, watching the well-behaved girls, Xu Xi smiled.

He smiled.

And enjoyed.

This moment of peace and beauty.

After dinner, everyone returned to their usual routines.

The younger sister went back to her grand mission, the witch and the servant tended to the courtyard’s plants, and the princess headed to the outskirts of the city to check on the common folk.

Xu Xi returned to his bedroom.

He pondered the future and his next steps.

“The simulation can wait.”

“At least until A Niu gets married, then I’ll consider starting the fifth simulation.”

“After all, the last simulation was so long ago. I’m not in a hurry to start another one.”

In the bedroom.

Xu Xi gazed out at the night sky.

His calm eyes reflected the dim stars.

“Time really flies.”

“Back then, I was weak and had to rely on the simulations to survive in the real world.”

“So, I was in a hurry. As soon as I gathered the materials for the second simulation, I immediately started a new one.”

“But now.”

“Strength is no longer my top priority. Instead, the experiences within the simulations and the simulator itself are what intrigue me the most.”

“The me from back then would never have imagined life would be like this, would I?”

The dark night sky began to brighten.

The moonlight was pure, like smooth jade.

Looking at the moon, Xu Xi suddenly felt like going somewhere else.

“…”, the Jianmu staff reappeared in his hand.

Recalling the events of the day, before using the teleportation spell, Xu Xi hesitated for a moment, first casting a few shielding spells to suppress any spatial fluctuations.

Only then did he proceed with the teleportation.

Rip—

The space tore like fabric.

Silently enveloping Xu Xi, the ripples faded, and his figure disappeared with them.

When he opened his eyes again, Xu Xi was back in the old house.

Moonlight poured in like water.

Filling the empty old house.

Silent and lightless, it condensed the wear of past years into specks of dust.

Even though Krisha had purified it that afternoon, the house was already covered in a thin layer of dust again.